Nick Caserio is a mad man. Just depends on if he’s a genius or not.
It’s mind-numbingly demoralizing to consider the eight mock drafts I posted on this site were essentially null-and-void from the get-go. After selecting three players correctly last year, I came home with only accurately picking Jayden Higgins to be a Houston Texan in my three-round mock draft in late January.
Every single pick in the Houston Texans 2025 NFL Draft was a result of a trade. The only non-draft day trade pick was Jaylin Noel as the Texans acquired the 79th pick from the Dolphins in the deal for Laremy Tunsil.
Tracking the chaos that was this past weekend’s seven trades takes clairvoyance only the Three Eyed Raven (Game of Thrones reference for the uneducated) possesses. Or, enough spare time on your hands to chart out how each move led to the nine selections Caserio did make in the draft… that’s what I have.
Here is a well-organized chart of every trade and how it led to each pick. It actually wraps up quite nicely.
Original Picks:
Round 1, Pick 25
Round 2, Pick 58
Round 3, Pick 79 (originally from MIA in trade for Laremy Tunsil)
Round 3, Pick 89
Round 5, Pick 166
Round 7, Pick 236
ALL TRADES IN ORDER OF WHEN THEY OCCURRED:
1. Texans trade down with the Browns in Round 5
Browns receive: Picks 166, 2027 fifth-round pick
Texans receive: Picks 179 (traded), 216 (traded), 255 (Luke Lachey, TE – Iowa)
2. Texans trade down with the Giants in Round 1
Giants receive: Pick 25
Texans receive: Picks 34 (Jayden Higgins, WR – Iowa State), 99 (traded), 2026 3rd round selection (traded)
3. Texans trade up with the Raiders in Round 2
Texans receive: Pick 48 (Aireontae Ersely, OT – Minnesota)
Raiders receive: Picks 58, 99
4. Texans trade down with the Jaguars in Round 3
Jaguars receive: Picks 89, 236
Texans receive: Picks 102 (traded), 142 (traded)
5. Texans trade up with the Vikings in Round 3
Texans receive: Pick 97 (Jaylin Smith, CB – USC), 187 (Jaylen Reed, CB – Penn State)
Vikings receive: Pick 102, 142
6. Texans trade up with the Dolphins in Round 4
Texans receive: Pick 116 (Woody Smith, RB – USC), 224 (Kyonte Hamilton, DT – Rutgers)
Dolphins receive: Pick 179, 2026 third-round pick
7. Texans trade up with the Broncos in Round 6
Texans receive: Pick 197 (Graham Mertz, QB – Florida)
Broncos receive: Pick 216, 241
HOUSTON TEXANS DRAFT PICKS:
Round 2, No. 34 – Jayden Higgins, WR – Iowa State
Round 2, No. 58 – Aireontae Ersely, OT – Minnesota
Round 3, No. 79 – Jaylin Noel, WR – Iowa State
Round 3, No. 97 – Jaylin Smith, CB – USC
Round 4, No. 116 – Woody Smith, RB – USC
Round 6, No. 187 – Jaylen Reed, CB – Penn State
Round 6, No. 197 – Graham Mertz, QB – Florida
Round 7, No. 224 – Kyonte Hamilton, DT – Rutgers
Round 7, No. 255 – Luke Lachey, TE – Iowa